But for me there was something even better - a present from Mervyn the pastor.
Only it wasn't the present that blessed me and made my Christmas. Cos I haven't opened it yet. ( I'm a good girl, I shall wait till Thursday) It was what was written on the gift tag.
In all seriousness that gift tag is very probably going to be the best present I get this Christmas. I'm sure Mervyn was hoping that the CD ( which is undoubtably what is contained therein) will be right and fitting - and I'm sure it will be. But he possibly doesn't realise that for someone like me,. the words ' amazing support' go SO much deeper than a physical gift ever could.
It was about 20 years ago that I was introduced to the teaching about motivational gifts. I'd heard plenty about ' the gifts of the spirit', had loads of teaching about tongues and all the rest. But somehow the Romans 12 gifts had slipped through my net. Until the wonderful Syd Niven explained them to me on a memorable train journey through Poland on a mission trip,.
In a nutshell it goes like this. There are spiritual gifts which are tools we can use to do the job God has called us to do. These are the ones in 1 Corinthians. Then there are motivational gifts ( the Romans 12 ones) which are the things we are born with - those deep callings which drive us to be the people was are supposed to be.
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
All of us are motivated by a spiritual calling - whether we recognise it or not - indeed whether we are Christians or not. Some are born to lead, others to serve. Some are givers.... they give of themselves, their time and their money and it doesnt seem to cost then any effort to do so - in fact if they aren't doing it they are not happy. For others it's teaching. These people mostly end up in teaching jobs because they cant help themselves. They have always been teachers and they get the biggest kick out of imparting knowledge. These are gifts which are intrinsic to our wellbeing. What make us a round peg in a round hole. The things that make us tick.
For years Id always thought I was a leader. I'd been told I was a leader. I was comfortable being up front leading things. Confident. Outgoing. But the problem was that I seemed to lose confidence once something was up and running. I didnt like, and wasnt very good at, the mechanics of leadership and I felt the burden rest heavily on me. I'd do it, but it didn't quite fit. And then I heard the Romans 12 teaching and realised that leading has never been my motivation. Im not a leader. Im an encourager.
The Bible calls it exhortation in the old translations - and its a better word than encouragement. Exhortation contains an element of ' encouragement with a toe up the backside' where necessary. Its not just nice words and hugs and cuddles. But of course it can be that too. It's why I am comfortable up at the front and in so many different roles . As long as I'm bringing some sort of encouragement I don't really care what job I'm doing. And when someone tells me that something I have said or done has encouraged or helped them - well I'm like the cat who got the cream
We can spend money on giving people presents this year, but how about we stop for a minute to think about what it is which makes us - and the people around us tick. If you are married to a teacher ( and I mean someone who is born to teach and has teaching running through the marrow of their bones not just someone who does it for a living) then the best present you can give them will be to tell them what you have learned from them over the past year. If your best friend is a giver, then they probably wont be terribly good at receiving. But what will bless them more than anything is the way in which you receive their gift to you. Givers really struggle when a present they offer is passed over with a shrug and a smile. They will glow and rejoice if their gift is received with excitement and oooohs and aaaahs. The mercy givers get very stressed at this time of year by the thought of all the people in the world who are in need. They are the sort of people who need to be volunteering with the homeless project or carol singing in the children's hospital at christmas time. The best gift you can give them is to let them do that rather than insist they come to the umpteenth christmas party or carol service with you. Leaders need to be in charge. They are miserable when they aren't. They are good at it - so let them plan the party and execute Christmas dinner with military precision. It might drive you nuts - but it will bless them!
If you want to read more about Motivational Gifts and discover what yours are then check out this website. Its good. This teaching changed my life - it really did.
Lord, as we get really close to Christmas and we look forward to the giving and receiving of gifts I want to thank you for the spiritual gifts You have given to us which are eternal and of so much more worth than any present under the tree. I thank you that You place deep within each one of us a motivation and that when we discover who You have made us to be we can live as round pegs in round holes - comfortable in our skins. I thank You for those ' charismatic' 1 Corinthian tools which You give as and when we need them. I pray that this coming year I would take and use everything You give me so that Your body the church is built up, encouraged, equipped, helped and strengthened. I want to receive words of knowledge and prophecy, interpretations and visions, gifts of healing and miracles. I want the whole lot Lord!! You delight to give good gifts to Your children - Thank You Jesus!
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